I’d fallen for him. Hard.
My heart was taking control and refusing to let my mind walk away from this attraction. What if he died? What if I never saw him again after today? I knew there was an envelope with details for me, but I’d refused to look at it because that meant Bane would be dead.
I felt sick. Calm down, Maren. I was going to be sick. Shoving the covers aside, I made it to the toilet in time before I expelled what I had left. My nerves were at an all-time high as I tried to quiet them.
“Angel, what’s wrong?”
I wiped off my mouth and flushed the toilet. “Nerves.”
Bane wet a washcloth and handed it to me. “I promise you’ll be fine today.”
“It’s not that.” A small sob erupted as I wrung the washcloth between my hands. “I don’t want this to end. I don’t want us to end. I’m falling for you, Bane.”
The shutters came down over Bane's eyes as he shut himself off. "In less than forty-eight hours we'll be over. This was the deal from the beginning.”
More tears fell down my face and Bane became angry. “Maren, I’m leaving in five hours. I’ll be back and then we’ll have two days together. You can’t do this right now. For fuck’s sake, I need my head on right. I should have never agreed to this arrangement. I knew it. Damn it! This was all a mistake.”
Bane slammed the bedroom door which jolted me as I stared at the tile on the floor. With the finality of the door closing, my heart shattered in a million pieces. I had been stupid to let my guard down. What had I been thinking?
It was over.
Standing, I brushed my teeth. Maybe I’d be able to stay in the bedroom until Bane left and wallow in my humiliation there. Here was to hoping. Ugh. Why had I opened my mouth and said anything? I should have never broken my promise. But, my heart would have forever wondered what if had I not said something.
Life was a bitch.
The ickiness from the morning visit to the toilet wore off as I got control of my nerves. There was nothing I could do and I refused to beg. I wanted someone to want me for me and nothing else. Eventually, I would find the love that Mom and Dad had. Someone would want to share their life with me because they loved me.
Finding a heavy sweater and jeans, I put them on. The more clothes, I wore the more it would be a deterrent from having sex. Any more intimacy and I wasn’t sure if my heart would survive the fallout.
Bane busted into the room. “We have to go! NOW!”
Adrenaline shot through me as I grabbed Bane’s hand. Bane grabbed our coats off the rack as we left the cabin, not taking the time to close the door. Running full speed to the shed, Bane threw open the door. I didn’t say a word as my heart nearly beat out of my chest. In all the discussions on what to do, I never imagined it would come to fruition.
Someone was here. The nausea hit again as I thought about someone doing something to either one of us. Bane had been insistent on practicing and discussing protocol if someone was to breech the perimeters. I’d never believed that this would be something we’d have to deal with.
Bane jumped on the snow mobile and I quickly sat on back.
“Hold on, Maren. Don’t let go of me for a second.”
“I won’t.”
The snow mobile roared to life as my heart raced faster. They’d found us. What if Bane had been gone today? I buried my face in his back as Bane took off at a dangerous speed. He whipped the snow mobile around to head behind the shed. Bane needed to focus. Me freaking out on the back wouldn’t help the situation.
Keep your eyes closed, Maren. Don’t look. It doesn’t matter. Bane will keep me safe.
I couldn’t help it, I looked back. No one was there. I breathed a sigh of relief until another snow mobile came roaring out from the side of the woods.
“Bane!”
“I see him. Hold on!”
The throttle whined as Bane turned it farther. With one hand, Bane pulled a gun from somewhere up front. He slowed minutely, the gun raised, and fired. I glanced back to see the guy slump off the machine. The snowmobile veered back into the trees as its rate of speed decreased.
Looking around I didn’t see anyone else, but felt completely exposed and buried myself further into Bane. Anyone in the tree line could take a shot at either one of us and we’d be finished. Bane bee lined for the trees. After we’d been in the trees for a few minutes, he slowed and looked around. A large boulder sat ahead. Pulling behind, the engine silenced.
“There was only one intruder that registered on the cameras, but I need to make sure.”
Bane pulled out his phone and flipped through different screens like he did often when we were together. “None of the other pressure places, trip wires, or cameras are registering anything. That’s odd.”
“Why?”
He checked a few more things. “Because they know it would take a team to take me down. This was a scouting trip. The man only tripped the outermost wires. Normal protocol has the perimeter closer than mine is. It’s a hell of a lot to keep up with, but gives enough warning to escape.”
Scouting meant one thing. They were coming. Bane could have been gone. The nauseous uneasy feeling came over me again. I shivered. Bane looked me in the eyes. “Let’s get to my other vehicle. In these frigid temps we won’t last long out here without the proper gear. I’m going to keep you safe, angel.”
It was freezing as I worked to keep my teeth from chattering. The snow mobile came to life immediately. As we drove cautiously, Bane stayed tense as he scanned the area. The speed was more moderate as we weaved in between the trees.
After an hour of driving, I was frozen to the core. An opening came into view and I heaved a sigh of relief. The cedar smell calmed me as I took deep soothing breaths. Buildings came into view as Bane stopped. None of the snow had been disturbed from what I could see.
Lowly, Bane spoke, filling me in. “This is one of my places. It has a vehicle inside the shed. I’ve been out here once about two weeks ago to make sure everything worked. It can’t be monitored since it doesn’t have electricity, but we’d see if anything had been disturbed.” Bane brought his hands up to the side of my face. “Remember what I told you if we were to get separated.”
“O-o-okay. I do.” The cold became almost too much to bear.
Bane looked back at me with concern. “Let’s go.” Bane ran in a half-crouch and I attempted to keep up with his pace. The air eerily silent. Not even the birds chirped. Bane looked to the left and to the right of the building before going to the door on the far right side. It seemed like no one had been here, which eased my nerves as Bane’s tracks from the time before he’d came were gone from the snow.
Coming to the door, Bane unlocked it. “Stay here. Let me check it out.”
Wrapping my arms around myself, all I wanted was to be in the vehicle with heater on full blast. A commotion started as I heard men tussling. There was a grunt, then Bane’s booming voice. “Maren, run!”
The reality momentarily rooted me in place until the words connected with my brain. I turned and headed for the trees where the snow mobile was. Where was I going to go? I had no idea. Wait. Bane told me to always use the compass and head south. It would take me into town. That was part of the protocol we’d discussed numerous times.
Making it to the snowmobile, I stopped when a man in a white outfit sat on it with his gun pointed at me. Not any man—Eric Thornhill. His picture had been on the computer screens for endless hours. I’d recognize his crew cut hair and leathery tanned skin anywhere.
I gasped and turned to run in the other direction.
“Don’t think about it, sweetheart. I have Frank back at the cabin. Do you want to be the cause of his death?”
Frankie. I stopped and faced him again, feeling the goose bumps on my skin raise in apprehension. The man hopped off the snow mobile and wrenched me into his grasp. “Let’s go see how loverboy is faring.”
As if he was being summoned, Bane came running out into the open. A gash on his chest and
knuckles bloodied. “Maren, are you okay?”
The gun cocked to my head and my heart stopped beating, rendering me speechless. “She’ll be fine as long as you listen. I have no problem putting a bullet in her head like I did Jasmine.”
The blood from Bane’s face drained as he watched me. Who was Jasmine? I felt light headed and swayed. Eric’s grip tightened on me. “Keep it together, sweetheart. Now you’re responsible for not only Frankie’s life, but Bane’s also.”
Bane talked. “Deep breaths, Maren. You can do this.” I nodded and focused on my breathing. The darkness leaving the edge of my vision.
“Let’s get back to the cabin. Put these zip ties on your wrists after you dump your weapons, Bane. If we find any on you when we get back, I’ll hurt the girl.” For a minute, Eric let me go and threw the plastic ties to Bane. Cautiously, he picked them up, watching Eric. Bane hesitated for a moment. “Don’t fuck with me. I won’t hesitate taking another woman away from you.”
“I’m going to kill you, motherfucker,” Bane said as he deposited two guns and three knifes into the snow. The blood darkened around the cut on his shirt. Bane was hurt. I checked him over closer and it appeared to be more of a surface wound.
Eric laughed. Actually laughed. “Like you did the first time …”
Fire emanated from Bane as he watched Eric with nothing but pure hate. “Let her go. I’ll come without any issues.”
Dramatically, Eric paused like he was thinking about it. “I don’t think so. You see, Maren has a bit more to play in getting what we want.”
A small frown, nearly imperceptible appeared on Bane’s face as he stared at Eric with no emotions. Binding his wrists and pulling the ties tight with his mouth, Bane held his hands up to show how secure they were.
“Very good. Now walk northwest. Stay fifteen paces ahead or you’ll be responsible for what I do to her.”
Bane’s jaw locked tight, but he did as he asked. The snow crunched beneath our feet as we walked to what felt like our death sentence.
THE HUMMER CAME into view a hundred yards away. Thank goodness. Maren’s teeth were chattering and she was dragging her feet from the sound of it. She needed to get warm before hypothermia set in. I hadn’t dared look back in case that bastard hit her for me disobeying. At least Maren would be out of the cold here in a second, and I could hopefully get a better assessment of the situation.
“Bane, wait outside the passenger door. Maren’s driving. If you try anything … I’ll kill her.”
Fucking asshole.
I nodded my understanding and did as asked. For the first time since we’d started walking, I got a glimpse of Maren through the windows. She was freezing as she shivered and looked exhausted. Our eyes met briefly and I saw fear in them. She got in the car, defeated. Eric got in the backseat and put the gun to the back of Maren’s head. She squeezed her eyes tight and a tear seeped out. I balled up my fists as I got my anger under control. Nobody touched her like that.
My angel tried to be strong, but this would be hard for anyone who hadn’t been conditioned. Eric motioned for me to get in. The plastic ties bit into my wrists like a bitch. A small trace of blood seeped out the sides. The pain helped me stay focused. Getting in, Maren trembled as she turned the key to crank the car.
“Can we turn on the heat, Eric? She’s freezing.” However he answered would help me determine my course of action. If he said no, it’d be a sure indicator that our lifespan was coming to an end and quickly. I’d have to take more risks to keep her safe—which was worth it. If not, I’d bide my time until an opportunity presented itself.
An opportunity always presented itself. Most people weren’t able to see it in stressful situations.
A few minutes passed. “Yes. No sudden movements, Maren. Then follow the road until we come to our first left. From there, we’ll be on the road to the cabin. Keep a steady pace, not over thirty miles an hour.”
“O-o-kay.”
All I wanted to do was kill the asshole behind us and get Maren somewhere safe where I could make her warm. I’d been a total prick this morning to her and I regretted every word. I’d wanted to say, Yes, I want to see where this goes too. All my hard work to not get attached to someone had backfired. With all the careful planning, I was in the same situation as before. I’d messed things up with Maren. Jasmine’s face flashed in front of my eyes. I couldn’t imagine seeing Maren like that. I couldn’t imagine her being pregnant and losing another baby. It’d kill me. There was no doubt about it. Maren was my angel—sent to save me from the hell on Earth.
I had been too late before. What if I was too late now?
I kept stoically still and watched the road in front of me. Maren kept a steady pace with two hands on the steering wheel. I watched her closely through my peripheral vision. The chattering of her teeth lessened—slightly.
Eric and I never got along for whatever reason. Shortly after joining the Black Division, Eric lost his wife. They’d been vacationing and he’d been called out on assignment. The mission went terribly wrong from what I knew. Details weren’t shared. I never would have imagined him being capable of betrayal.
Deciding to give Eric a sense of victory, I asked, “So how’d you make it into the building?”
Eric scoffed. “You played right into my hands. He told me it wouldn’t be that easy, but turns out he was wrong.”
He? Eric was working for someone and not an organization. Who was the question? I imagined everything would reveal itself shortly. Hampton no doubt would make an appearance. Soon I’d know if he was a traitor or if Eric had something over Hampton.
There was no use in continuing to prod. If Eric thought I needed the information, he would withhold it. If I didn’t continue questioning, I had a higher probability of getting more answers. Eric had a weakness—his need to brag.
Eric continued, evidently pleased with himself. “It was brilliant. You bested two of my best men back there. I thought they’d at least cause you a little more damage. Seems I thought too highly of them.” Eric goaded me into a pissing contest. I didn’t care. All I wanted was Maren safe, even if that meant sacrificing myself. Maybe then the tone of my sins would be forgiven.
Maren flinched every time Eric spoke. The gun scraping the back of her head. I should have left well alone until we got to the cabin, but I needed information. Fuck. Eric kept talking. “We dropped the two men out about three miles to the west. They had small stilts fashioned like animal prints. When they got a clear line of the shed, they zip-lined to it, got inside. The retractable line went back to some tree in the woods leaving minimum to no trace. With the continuous snowfall their paths was erased within two days. They’ve been in that building for the past five days.”
That meant they’d known where we were for at least a week, maybe longer. This cat and mouse game had been orchestrated well and thought out. Maren turned left and headed up the mountain. The car became silent as my mind sorted through different scenarios. If I could manage to get my phone out of my pocket, I could set off an explosion to maybe buy me a window of opportunity. I had a few different areas rigged.
The cabin came into view and only one other Hummer. “Bane, you’ll get out first. Walk to the cabin and stop at the door. No sudden movements. I’ll have Maren.”
Maren parked the car. I got out and headed to the front door. From behind, I could hear their approach. With the smoke coming from the chimney, someone was inside stoking the fire. Answers were about to reveal themselves. There had been no additional track through the yard from what I could tell. It looked like three sets of footprints headed to the door. The yard looked undisturbed. The numbers were on my side if there were only four total to take out. I’d take some damage, but it was doable.
“Walk in slowly.” All I wanted to do was turn and hit that asshole so hard it would crush his jugular, but he’d have time to pull the trigger. I couldn’t lose Maren.
I turned the knob. The main room was vacated. “Take a seat in the chair in the
middle of the room. Don’t move.”
Keeping me isolated and away from everything was smart. All I need to do was keep a calm head and an opportunity would present itself. I was sure of it.
I took my seat resting my hands on my lap. Untrained people thought it best to tie someone’s hands behind their back. That was a mistake. It put the hands out of sight. Near, the fireplace sat another chair. Eric pointed to it. “Take a seat, Maren. Face Bane.”
Maren trembled and I fought the urge to go to her. The place had been set up for a show of some sort. I was positioned to see most of the room. My senses were on high alert as I watched everyone closely. With a shaky voice, Maren asked, “Will you let my brother go now?”
The plea in Maren’s voice broke my heart as I watched her beg Eric. “Bring him out.”
The bedroom door opened; Frankie walked out with a gun held to his head. With … Hampton following. My chest heaved at seeing who I thought was one of my friends. The thought Hampton could betray me stung. I waited for any sign from him that this was a double-cross. None came as he stared without emotion back at me.
“Tell me, did you know Hampton was involved? Was I able to get the phone turned off before his voice came through the line when your whore was talking to Frankie?” I fumed at Eric’s jubilation with his insult and my demise. I stared down Hampton, but he couldn’t meet me in the eyes.
Fucking coward.
“Ahh … I take it this was the surprise I hoped it would be. Good.”
Frankie looked shaken standing in front of Hampton. With him being a loose cannon that could make things worse fast or he’d get himself killed. For once, Frankie seemed sincere as he asked, “Maren, are you okay?”
“Yes.” I could tell by the shaking in her voice she was far from okay. At least she was near the fire where she could continue warming up.
Frankie went to walk toward her, but Hampton jerked him back. Panicked, Frankie, confessed, “I shouldn’t have done all the things they asked. Switching out your condoms … pills …”
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